"Ossian "-Swift's "Tale of a Tub," Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," Translations of Tasso— Dante, Madame De Stael, the Greek and Roman poets, &c. These literary studies were, of course, the beloved pursuit of many years. It must not be omitted, though the theme is too tempting to dwell upon fully, that our literary young iron-worker experienced the thrilling raptures of early love! How, indeed, could he have become a poet otherwise? He tells us, though he never spoke to the object of his affection, yet, if he thought she saw him passing her father's house, he would feel as if weights were fastened to his feet, as if he had to lift the very earth at every step. This ever interesting theme must be passed over!

His first published poem, entitled "The Vernal Walk," was written in his seventeenth year. A true poet here makes his first essay, and though it was mercilessly cut up by the critics, yet to the last the poet loved this first offspring of his muse. It contains some fine passages, and sweet lines, and picturesque descriptions of the fair and grand scenes of Nature. We cannot, here, pursue at length the after poetic productions of Elliott's gifted pen. It is more to our present purpose to recount, that he retained his early associations in connection with the old Hollis School and the Chapel. The son, named Samuel, of the old schoolmaster, Joseph Ramsbottom, displayed early scholastic excellencies, and was destined for the ministry. Young Samuel and Ebenezer became the warmest friends, both mutually benefiting each other, both devoted to exalted liferature, and loving to exchange together their views of ancient and modern authors. Elliott, though he knew nothing of Greek, never tired of listening to Homer's thrilling verse from his friend's recitation. What a superior companionship was theirs! Alas, this gifted son of the schoolmaster died in his early career. Elliott in his poem, "Withered Wild Flowers," published in 1834, pays his tender and thrilling tribute to both the elder and younger Ramsbottom. The poet explains of this poem as follows :-" The idea of concluding this poem with a funeral sermon was suggested to me, by hearing an oration delivered by the Rev. Jacob Brettell, on the death of my early teacher, one of the most respectable of an ill-rewarded class of men-an humble

schoolmaster. He was one of those unsophisticated beings, whom the improved state of society will no longer permit to subsist among us. He was disinterestedness personified; a man of genius, of infantine kindliness, of patriarchal simplicity, the gentlest and most benevolent of living creatures. Humble, pious, industrious, and resigned, he lived and died, as few can live and die; and his appropriate epitaph would be, 'Here lies the best of men, Joseph Ramsbottom.'" The monument in the chapel yard states, Joseph Ramsbottom departed this life 6th September, 1820. The poetic tribute forms the opening of the poem named-picturing at first the Old Meeting-house and the view from the Chapel yard.

"Don, like a weltering worm, lies blue below,

And Wincobank, before me, rising green,
Calls from the South the silvery Rother slow,
And smiles on moors beyond, and meads between,
Unrivall'd landscape! Oh, it is a scene,

That to remembrance brings the hope-bless'd days,
But not their hope! And at my feet, serene
And cold lies he, and deaf to mortal praise,
Who from this mount, erewhile, rejoiced to gaze;
Who in this temple, plain and unadorn'd,
Duly as Sabbath came, throughout the year,
The word of Him in Jewry heard and scorn'd,
In Jewry scourged and slain, rejoiced to hear;
While Age shed oft th' involuntary tear,
And younger voices sweetly joined to sing
The warbled anthem, plaintive, soft, and clear,
Till soar'd the soul on pure devotion's wing,
And God look'd down, and angels, listening.
Daughters of Memory! Shall the good man sleep
Unnoted, though immortal, in the grave?
Shall verse from sure oblivion try to save
Each worthless name? and no unvenal pen
Write, Here lies Nature's child,' the best of men,
The sire of that mourn'd youth, whose soul of fire
Cherish'd in mine a spark that else had died,
The love of Milton's song, and Ossian's lyre,
And Burns, to glory's noblest sons allied?
Cold o'er thy bosom shall the earthworm glide,

Where communed oft that low-laid youth with me:
And shall I hang my harp on Rother's side,
For ever mute and stringless there to be,
Teacher and Friend! without one strain to thee?
Teacher and Friend, who bad'st me syllable

Words cull'd from learning's page with weary eye!
Thy patience taught me zealously and well,

But could not teach, like thee, to live and die;
To envy nought beneath the ample sky;
To mourn no evil deed, no hour mis-spent ;
And, like a living violet, silently

Return in sweets to Heaven what goodness lent,
Then bend beneath the chastening shower content.
But thou no more, with eye refresh'd, shalt see
The long-watch'd seedling from the soil aspire.
Or bind the rose, or train the gadding pea;
No more shalt thou for victor flowers enquire
Or proudly hear th' expected guest admire
Thy gemm'd auricula, a growing flame,
Or polyanthus, edged with golden wire,

The poor man's flower, that lifts to humble fame,
Till e'en in print appears his envied name.

Who now shall tend thy plants, thy priceless flowers,
Emblems of thee, but not more pure than thou?
The morn shall miss thee, and the dewy hours
Of eve deplore, as I deplore thee now;

And spring shall pass her hand athwart her brow,
When not a gem of thine shall deck her hair,
Then shake in haste the dewdrop from the bough,
And to the spot where thou art laid, repair;

'Where is my Druid?' Death shall answer-' There !""

Joseph Ramsbottom cultivated a beautiful garden in the west-side portion of the chapel-yard, and it was still well remembered by the older attenders of Rev. William Blazeby's earlier ministry.

Elliott, while remaining in Rotherham, kept up his connection with the Unitarian Chapel, though occasionally attending Masborough Independent Chapel. He would be about twelve years of age when Parson Allard resigned the pulpit, and, for the after twenty-one years, he would be a hearer of Dr. Warwick's discourses, though it may be assumed that the good Doctor's scientific predilections might not greatly fascinate the poet. Father Elliott was, we may conclude, a great admirer of Dr. Warwick, as his name first appears, as a seat-holder for 16s annually in 1793, when Warwick commenced duty. Elliott raised his subscription, in 1797, to £1, one of the largest on the list, then to £1 1s. It is significant, that his name disappears after 1814, and that Dr. Warwick left in 1816. Mr. Elliott becomes a seat-holder again in 1820, for £2, after Mr. Brettell had been settled about four years, but he appears to have